Shoe.



G. VALIANT.

SHOE.

APPLICATION FILED 51111.13, 1906.

. Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

lio/caon (gu/L7M U f L e. I A m vze GEORGE VALIANT, `OF TORONTO,ONTARIO, CANADA.

SHOE.

Specification ot Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

Application led January 13, 1906. Serial No. 295,978.

T0 all lwhom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE VALIANT, of thecity of Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario,Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes, ofwhich the following is the specification.

My invention relates first to a `shank curve-forming, sustaining orstifening device, second a Ventilating appliance and third, a combinedVentilating and shank curve-forming, sustaining and stiifening device;either feature being perfect in its function independent of the other,but each equally important as a separate improvement in shoeconstruction, hence I desire to secure claims protecting my invention inthe performance of these functions separately and jointly. f

My invention also relates to improvements in ventilated shoes and theobject of the invention is to provide a shank stiffener combining theutilities of stifl'ening and effectnally ventilating a shoe, and also tofurnish a means by which shoes not originally designed for ventilationmay be readily converted into ventilated shoes without necessitatingintroducing into such unventilated shoe any cumbersome Ventilatingappliances, which among other disadvantages necessitate a larger shoebeing worn than the wearer would otherwise require, and a further objectis to obviate the necessity for the use of channels, air ductsv` springswithin channels and other methods for introducing air between the solesand yet allow my Ventilating shank stiffener in case such appliances arepreferred to be used with any and all of them.

My invention consists of a Ventilating shank comprising ar retainingmember or members and a perforated movable portion to register withperforations through the shank of the shoe.

vFigure, l. is a perspective view of a shoe showing it reversed andpartially .broken away in order to exhibit the position of my inventionin the shank. Fig. 2, is an enlarged perspective detail of a portion ofthe shank showing my improvement. Fig. 3. is a cross section through theheel and shank and inner end of the retaining plate. Fig. 4, is a crosssection through the shank and my device.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each figure.

metal having a correslwnding number o perforations 1) arranged in a rowcorresponding to the per` forations B and at the same distance apart.The plate I) is provided with a knob D2 for manipulating the plate andwith a curved engaging end D,

l] 1s the retaining plate, which is fastened on the step C around therecess C.by nails or any other suitable fastening. The plate E isprovided with a row of perforations 2 corresponding in number andsubstantially registering with the perforations B in the shank. The rearend of the plate E is provided with two alined recesses E stamped orotherwise formed up in the plate and with one of which the curved end D3is designed to engage. The rear end of the retaining plate .ll is alsoprovided under the heel with bent edges E2 which are designed to retainthe plate in position and obviate any undue pressure on theheel bindingthe movable plate in position.

l" is a strip of fine wire cloth, which is located on the inside of theshank ofthe shoe and adapted to cover the perforations B.

G is the inner lining of the shoe` which is provided with a longitudinalopening G or perforations. if desired. designed to always leave theperforations B open and free except for the wire cloth. The lining (lserves to cover the edges of the wire cloth and thereby prevent it frombeing uncomfortable to the foot of the wearer of the shoe.

lVhile this describes my invention as I preferably make it, it will bereadily seen that my object may be accomplished in a variety of wayswithout departure from my invention.

\Vhen it is desired to have perfect and free ventilation of the shoe theknob D2 is moved so as to bring the movable plate D and the perforationsD thereof to register with the perforations B and 2, and in whichposition it is retained by the curved end D3 of the plate engaging withthe front recess E.

Whenever it is desirable to exclude moisture the knob D2 may be readilymoved so as to bring the movable plate into such a p0- sition as toclose the perforations. I

.I am not awa're'of any means having hith- Aerto been adopted by which aturn or sin le 4 soled shoe may be ventilated without the 1ntoduction ofan internal Ventilating appli-y ance which at once defeats the objectlof having a single soled shoe., By the use of my invention thisdifficulty is entirely overcome.l

I am aware that shoes have been ventilated by means of holes extendingthrough the upper sind also through vthe shank, and ywhile these shoesmay provide more or less ventilation they fail to provide protectionagainst the entrance of moisture through these ventilating holes whensuch protection is necessary, and this my invention eflectually makesprovision for.

While my ventilatinv shank stiffener is a perfect Ventilating app ianceit also gives an additional value to the shoe through lts utility as aneffective stiffener and arch preserving device which it is practicallyimpossible to roduce in the ordinary methods ofshoema ing, and I desireto emphasize the value of this feature of m invention.

Where it is desire to use the appliance ex' clusively as a shankcurve-forming, sustaining or stifening device it is ap lied without reerence to the Ventilating ho es.

To attain the stiffness necessary to 'preserve the shape ofthe shank ofashoe the usual method is to introduce between the soles either steel,wood, or other stiffening substances that are-either bulky or liable inwear to break and in breaking destroy the appearance and usefulness ofthe shoe, but in the event of my Ventilating shank stifener beingdamaged from any cause, it being applied to the outside of the sole,instead of inside the shoe, or between the soles, maybe readily andinexpensively replaced.

My shank stlffener will also furnish a means whereby an ordinary shoehaving the shank damaged as aforesaid may be restored to its formershape and usefulness with the additional value to such shoe of the`ventilatinifeature comprised in my invention.

y Ventilating shank is also particularly valuable in use in connectionwith rubbersoled sportingand other shoes both as furnishing a shankstiffener and also'asa means of ventilation, neither of which` resultshave been attainable underany methods hitherto adopted in making suchshoes.VY l

While I have enumeratedv the principal features of utility, durabilityand general improvement comprised in my invention, it also adds value tothe appearance of a shoe infutiishing a permanent shank decoration orfinish.

While I prefer to make my Ventilating shank stifl'ener of metal anyother suitable material may be used.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. The combination with a shoe havlngashank provided with a series ofV erforations I extendlng longitudinallyAthereo of a strip affixed to the outer side of said shank andlongitudinally thereof, said stri being adapted to be slidlongitudinally an to flexibly conform to the arch of the shank, and

exterior arch supporting Ventilating shank` stiflener comprising aretaining member fixed to the outer side of said shank and a perforatedmetal strip adapted to slide between said fixed member and theperforated shank, the 'retaining member having perforations permanentlyregistering with the perforations in the shank, and the sliding memberhaving perforations adapted to be brought into `register with theperforations in the shank as specified. 4. In a ventilated shoe an outersole havin a de ression in the outer side of its shank an per orationsin said depression extending through the sole, and an exteriorarch-supporting ventilatin shank stil'ener comprising two erforatestrips, one alixed to the outer si e of the outer sole and havin itsperforations registering with the per orations in the shank andthe otherada ted to slide above said fixed strip in said sion to register itsperforations with the perforations in said shank and both stripsflexibly conforming to the longitudinal and lateral curves of the shankof the shoe as specified.

GEORGE VALIANT.

. Witnesses:

MARGARET VALIANT, B. Born. f

epres-

